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Whooping cough: Advocacy group warns against homeopathic prevention as alternative to vaccines

Some homeopaths use nosodes and other remedies as alternatives to vaccines, which is counter to Canadian public health messages.

By Stephanie LawStaff Reporter

Fri., Aug. 10, 2012

Amidst the recent whooping cough outbreaks in various parts of Canada, a new science watchdog is calling on Health Canada to deregister homeopathic nosodes, a remedy that some homeopaths recommend as alternatives to vaccines.

“If somebody is offering up a nosode as an alternative to vaccine, they are being given a false sense of security that it will protect them,” said Michael Kruse, a York Region paramedic who is also board chair of Bad Science Watch, a citizens advocacy group formed this year. “Not only are we decreasing people who are getting vaccinated, but if they’re choosing these therapies, then they also put themselves at risk.”

So far this year, there have been at least 1,785 cases across the four provinces most affected in Canada: southwestern Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick. An infant in Alberta died from it.

Kruse says that Health Canada should be promoting immunization schedules for children, rather than sending out mixed messages by registering homeopathic nosodes as “effective” natural health products.

“We’re looking at the regulator to protect the public and properly regulate these substance, to make sure they’re safe and that there’s no adulteration, and look at efficacy,” Kruse said. “If it’s not effective, then it shouldn’t be offered.”

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Nosodes are a class of homeopathic remedy that uses a dead form of the targeted disease in a diluted formulation. They are usually prescribed as tablets or alcohol oral drops.

Health Canada has approved the homeopathic use of more than 20 nosodes, including those some homeopaths would use to prevent whooping cough, malaria, polio and the common flu.

“While some Canadians may choose the use of nosodes to maintain and improve their health, immunization is more effective in preventing vaccine preventable diseases,” Health Canada wrote in an email to the Star.

Health Canada added that it “has not licensed any pertussinum products with a specific claim for pertussis, nor any homeopathic medicines as ‘homeopathic vaccines.’”

Even though these products are licensed and sold in Canada, there remains a divide within the homeopathic community on the effectiveness of nosodes, said a local homeopath Joseph Kellerstein, who has been practising homeopathy since 1984.

“There’s a lack of actual hard data to support it,” said Kellerstein.

Kellerstein said most evidence for using nosodes is anecdotal, and not gathered through a scientifically rigorous process. He himself does not prescribe nosodes for prevention.

Unlike Kellerstein, homeopath Sheila Caporali is confident nosodes can be an effective preventative treatment as an addition to a basic, “constitutional,” homeopathic remedy. Neither of her two children, 6 and 9 years old, has received any vaccinations.

Caporali said there was a bout of whooping cough that was spreading among children in her neighbourhood in 2006, and her unvaccinated 3-year-old son did not get infected.

“Will I peer pressure anyone into it? Absolute not,” she said. “If I can see a parent is leaning toward not vaccinating, then I will help them make that decision — if they are leaning toward vaccinating, then I’d help them, make them comfortable and educate them.”

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